MANILA – Senate President Vicente Sotto III has rejected proposals to investigate alleged anomalies in the Philippines’ hosting of the 2019 Southeast Asian Games (SEA Games).
In a statement on Friday, Sotto shut down separate resolutions filed by opposition senators Risa Hontiveros and Leila de Lima claiming it was the Office of the Ombudsman who should investigate the matter.
“We garnered an unprecedented medal haul in the recent SEA Games and instead of congratulations we will reward the people behind with investigations? Huwag gano’n,” Sotto said.
“Ombudsman mag-investigate. Puwede din sa kanila file complaint,” added the Senate President.
Hontiveros, in her privilege speech, accused the Bases Conversion and Development Authority (BCDA) of using taxpayer’s money to pay for a P9.5-billion loan used to fund the construction of sports facilities in the New Clark City for the games, despite signing a joint venture agreement with Malaysian developer MTD Capital Berhad.
Under the agreement, BCDA would provide the land while MTD was the in-charge of finance.
Senate Committee on Sports chair Sen. Christopher “Bong” Go, however, said he is willing to proceed with the investigation to see if government officials really erred in deals related to the 30th SEA Games.
“Para sa akin, kailangang lumabas ang katotohanan at katulad ng mga sinabi ko noon, ni piso mula sa kaban ng bayan ay hindi dapat manakaw o masayang,” Go said in a statement.
“Kung may mga alegasyon ng anomalya sa anumang mga proyekto ng gobyerno, dapat sagutin at hindi palampasin ito,” he added./PN
